THE EFA PROJECT: INDOOR AIR QUALITY IN EUROPEAN SCHOOLS

Abstract

The objectives of the EFA project ‘Indoor Air Pollution in Schools’ were to collect information on indoor air quality (IAQ) in European schools, to review the related policies and preventive programs and to formulate recommendations aimed at providing a healthy school environment. IAQ in schools should be recognized as a priority topic for public health. School buildings are used by a large number of people for a long time but its IAQ has been much less studied than in other buildings. Schools frequently have serious indoor problems because of poor building construction, maintenance, cleaning and ventilation; high levels of VOCs and allergens are reported. The IAQ in schools can cause various short- and long-term negative health effects and discomfort, particularly in subjects with allergy. Nowadays only a very few European countries have guidelines aimed at improving IAQ. A multidisciplinary European program aimed at improving the IAQ in schools is needed.